Villainthropy

So, roughly 2 years ago I built my first PC. Here's the PC Part Picker List. Now, there's nothing WRONG with my PC. She runs like a dream, considering I built her from scratch after just a month or so of research and came from a background of only using Macs. However, I've found that the choices I made for this PC aren't exactly the best. I move my PC more than I anticipated, and the case I chose is simply too big to move around as often as I do. Long story short, I want to downsize my case. This wouldn't be that big of an issue if I wasn't insanely picky, aesthetically, and if I hadn't gotten a freakin' Cooler Master V8 GTS CPU cooler. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE how it looks and works. I wanted my rig to be themed red/white/black, and I loved how badass the cooler looked. However, now that I'm trying to downsize, preferably to something mid-tower sized, it's becoming more of a hindrance than anything else. The biggest issue I have is that I live somewhere that doesn't have a lot of stores that sell PC components. I can't simply go into a store and test for myself if my cooler will clear, and so I have to be 100% sure before I order one. I have one local Fry's, and that's it. Now, the cases I'm bouncing around atm are the NZXT S340, S340 Elite, InWin 303 and Phanteks P400. My parameters are: a white case, side panel window, and that it weighs less / is smaller than my current Storm Stryker. ( HWD 23.80" x 9.80" x 22.80" ; 30.20 lbs. ) I'd also not like to break the bank by buying another $150 case - I'm hoping to sell my old case to help offset any costs, but I'm still trying to not spend an arm and a leg, especially since I'll have to buy new fans, since my current Storm Stryker came with fans. My local Fry's supposedly has the InWin 303 in stock, so I'm going to check it out today. But it's also a bit heavier than I would like, so it isn't my first choice. (Plus, the blue lighting on the front would kinda clash with my preferred color scheme.) So, am I just royally screwed unless I give up my beasty cooler? It's been fine for my needs, and I'd rather not get rid of it, but if I have to then of course I will. I've read mixed reviews about the clearance of these cases. For example, this review claims that they could fit into the S340 a cooler that, with fans attached, measures 170mm where mine is ''only'' 167mm. I was hoping maybe people who own these cases could tell me first-hand experiences with height issues? Or maybe there are other cases you'd recommend? Or you can just tell me to suck it up and get a smaller cooler -- perhaps even go for a liquid CPU cooler. Just, keep it civil, okay?

I've gone through the BIOS and every option under the Wake setting is disabled. I'm completely stumped. I'm wondering if this could be connected with a start-up error I've been having, the "Reboot and select a proper boot drive" error? It happens ~50% of the time when I restart the computer or start it up from shut down, but it only takes a few restarts for the computer to ""remember"" that it has a perfectly fine drive

Haha, I wish.

Oh, now I've tried the second one and it's telling me it's unable to perform the operation and that I might not have permission, even though I'm running in Administrator mode?

No, I've disabled any hardware from waking the PC. The first time it was a hardware issue. Now it's not showing up as anything.

Thanks to Mac's Terminal I'm a bit of an idiot with this stuff. The first one came back as NONE, but I can't get the second one to go through properly. It either says the syntax is improper or invalid parameters. I haven't dug into my BIOS yet. I don't know my BIOS as well as some, since I don't overclock and only used it to set up boot device order. I guess maybe it's time to give it a shot though, huh?

So I've just built my first computer. I've used Mac all my life. That's just a head's up for if you realize I'm a complete idiot and what I'm asking is the dumbest question ever. Now, I consider myself relatively tech savvy. I've looked up every guide I can find about stopping my computer from waking up on its own. I have disabled EVERY wake timer. NO hardware can wake my computer aside from the power button. And yet, like clockwork, it wakes up every morning at about 6. Today, when I came home from work, my computer was on. However, when I dug into Command Prompt with powercfg -lastwake, I was informed there wasn't a wake up. The first time I went digging, Command Prompt told me the mouse had woken the computer up. Now, I get told there wasn't a wake up in the first place. However, when I dug into Event Viewer, I can see a list of wake ups. Screenshots provided. EDIT: I've gone through the BIOS and every option under the Wake setting is disabled. I'm completely stumped. I'm wondering if this could be connected with a start-up error I've been having, the "Reboot and select a proper boot drive" error? It happens ~50% of the time when I restart the computer or start it up from shut down, but it only takes a few restarts for the computer to ""remember"" that it has a perfectly fine drive Now, my question is simple. Is there a way to dig DEEPER and discover what this unknown wake source is? By every guide I can find, I should have full control over my computer's sleep cycles. I've even checked Task Manager, and as far as I can tell, nothing has the power to wake the computer in order to update itself. While this is by no means a DIRE situation, the fact that I can't trust my computer to stay asleep is bugging the hell out of me. Say what you will about Macs... at least mine slept when I told it to.

So, firstly, I hope this is the right forum. Secondly, please excuse any idiocy in the coming questions. I've recently made a move away from Mac to Windows, and built my own rig from scratch, 100% self-taught. I don't have anyone I can turn to to ask simple and sometimes embarrassing questions, so please, keep any comments along the lines of "well that's a dumb question, you're so stupid" to a minimum - they really don't help anyone. Now, I've streamed before, back on my Macbook Pro. I would either use Livestream Procaster, or Skype, and Soundflower sometimes to get the audio going correctly. Now, I've learned that Soundflower doesn't work on Windows. Is there something I might have to use instead? I have a MSI Gaming 5 MOBO, and a MSI GTX 970 4GB GPU. I know that I have MSI and Nvidia software here, but I'm afraid to mess with it since, as I've said, I'm alone in any screw-ups I might make. I'd rather ask questions now and do it right the first time, then mess up really badly first and have nothing to show for it. I've been able to successfully stream with Skype, which worked really well as far as the video went, but I couldn't get the audio to come through. My headset is a Plantroincs Gamecom 788. Feel free to ask more questions or point me in the direction of tutorials or videos or anything of that sort.

@Maheshvara well, rather than buying a cpu that's kind of a waste if I do not plan on using it to its "full" potential (unless oc cpus are ""better"", even when not oc'd??) is there another mobo you would recommend I should use? Sorry this isn't a quote, replying via mobile...

Starting to see that that might be the best answer! Haha, see, this is what made me start doubting. All y'all with 760s seem to just love them! As long as one can get the job done, I guess I shouldn't worry about 2 in SLI... Okay! So long as I can trust one, I guess it makes more sense to get one newer/better GPU rather than two "older" ones. I have literally no plans to OC. I'm not the sort of person who wants to go into the BIOS and bother with that. So I didn't think it was worth it to buy an K CPU if I had no plans to OC. The MOBO and cooler are mostly aesthetic choices (the cooler because I really don't like any of the air coolers - I'm trying to go for a bit of a theme - and it felt silly to pay for an AIO without overclocking). The MOBO was picked because I like the idea of having 2 MSI products, and since my rig is getting the name "Dragon", it seemed fitting. I had more expensive MOBOs picked out, and flip flopped, but I think this one seems solid and not too expensive. Yeah, I know about the PSU. Just have to figure out if I wanna go for a HALE or something to match the white of my case or suck it up and get something black....

(I hope I'm posting this correctly. It kind of overlaps with the Hot Deals and Graphics Cards threads, but this is still a question from a first-time builder on a first-time build.) So, I'm trying to get the pedal to the metal, so to speak, and figure out my last minute buys with Black Friday and Cyber Monday right around the corner. My problem, however, is I'm still not 100% on GPU. I understand the 760 is older, but I've seen reviews saying they can still play games at their highest setting with no problems. My rig is planned to be used mostly for gaming, but I'm also a multitasker, and I'm gonna try for 2 displays, and experiment with streaming. (I used to stream on my old Mac using Procaster, but that was never a good experience.) I want the ability to play games at their highest setting should I choose to, and allow for graphic mods as well. I sometimes dabble in Photoshop, but really only for graphics and gifs. As you can see, currently I have a GTX 970 on my list. However, Newegg is selling MSI GTX 760s (see here) for a fairly reasonable price. I could feasibly buy two of the 760s for only $50 more than the price of one 970. Is that worth it? Or should I just buy a 970 now and wait until I'm flush enough to buy another? (And if I go up to SLI, I'm assuming my PSU will have to be bumped up as well. I know. ) In the same vein, are there any cards I should look out for if they go cheap for the holiday sales, or any that are cheap enough now to warrant being a better deal for SLI? I'm not really afraid of paying more (I'm trying to get the best bang for the cheapest buck, but I'm not afraid of buying more expensive stuff when it's really worth it). I'm just trying to take advantage of good deals as I see them. (I'm not really looking for critiques on the rest of my decisions for this build, but if you see something glaring, you can point it out and give your two cents.) PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($219.99 @ NCIX US) CPU Cooler: Cooler Master V8 GTS 82.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($69.99 @ Micro Center) Thermal Compound: Antec Formula 7 Nano Diamond 4g Thermal Paste ($10.48 @ OutletPC) Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($144.98 @ OutletPC) Memory: Kingston Fury White Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($79.99 @ Amazon) Storage: A-Data S510 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($65.99 @ Newegg) Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.28 @ SuperBiiz) Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 970 4GB Twin Frozr V Video Card ($349.99 @ NCIX US) Power Supply: NZXT HALE82 V2 550W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($79.99 @ Amazon) Wireless Network Adapter: Rosewill RNX-N250PCe 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 Wi-Fi Adapter ($16.99 @ Amazon) Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition 39.9 CFM 120mm Fan ($15.99 @ NCIX US) Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition 39.9 CFM 120mm Fan ($15.99 @ NCIX US) Total: $1149.65 Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-24 10:44 EST-0500

Haha, that's why I went with a closed loop system! It might be overkill, but at least it'll LOOK nice. And if I get an NZXT model, I get the RGB option! Very nice for me. I'm trying to get over my dislike of the H440, because the first time I saw it I thought, "Wow. That looks like a fridge." It's probably that little black bit sticking out the top? But yeah... I'm stuck between loving the rugged nature of the Stryker and loving the fact that a lot of the other models come with PSU covers, which I'm having a hard time finding as after-market mods? Odd. I'm also somewhat wary of not having a fan controller somewhere on the case, but that's just because I don't know jack squat about fan control, and I don't know if there's a way around that (besides buying a fan control system, because I feel like that's kind of a splurge I'd rather not worry about). Is it even worth worrying about? I dunno.

Ack, meant to put in the 970. My bad. That's what I get for trying to change the list from my phone... I'll head up to a 750W, and I'll snag a Crucial SDD. Oh, and if I go for a non-water-cooled unit, or non-closed-loop, should I go for Noctua? I've seen everywhere that they're the brand to beat, but if I am going for a rig that I look at with a side window, I can't STAND the poop-brown looks. :\ As far as the case goes, I'm just SUPER picky about my aesthetic. I'm not looking for a lot, but I want something white and clean, and I'm coming over from Mac, so I'm used to having a sleek, pretty computer. A lot of the white cases look kinda cheap or silly, with some ending up so close to something I'd like, but then with something in the aesthetic making them look like a refrigerator. I want something with a window, considering that I like what my inner components look like. I'm the sort of person who doesn't mind throwing extra money at something to make it look good, although that may seem silly or frivolous to others. D:

Thank you so much to everyone for your responses! I'm surprised at how many of you posted entirely new builds for me! I'm also surprised how many different video cards you all recommended! @Maheshvara I'm totally gonna steal your rec of the mobo, since I love its colors! (Unless someone sees this and thinks that's a terrible idea? It does have zero ratings...) Or if GarnetDevil's suggestion of a H97 is a better one? (I'm such a newb @ MOBOs, sorry!) I also jumped up the GTX 970, since I saw that most often across your recs. I'm now wavering between the Storm Stryker and the Enthoo Luxe as far as the case goes... I love the looks of the Stryker, but I understand that its also got some issues with the airflow at the front, and it is a bit old... And the Luxe comes with the PSU cover, which has been something I've been on the fence about. Also, if I do decide to be prepared for overclocking, since I decided to spring for the K (a negligible price difference, really) how do I factor that into my PSU? PCPartPicker has me at 352W, so should a 500W PSU be fine? I don't want to have a bigger PSU than I need, as that seems wasteful. PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($214.29 @ Amazon) CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($117.99 @ Mac Mall) Motherboard: MSI Z97S SLI Krait Edition ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($126.00 @ Newegg) Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.99 @ Newegg) Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.99 @ Amazon) Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.28 @ SuperBiiz) Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($190.91 @ Newegg) Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($154.98 @ Newegg) Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg) Total: $1131.42 Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-14 20:13 EST-0500

Hey all! I've been watching Linus' videos over on YT for a while, so I figured it was time for me to branch out and take advantage of what seems to be a vast and very knowledgable community! First, some background: I'm making a switch over from Mac, and as such I'm not 100% read up on everything to do with PC Builds. I'm not tech illiterate, just self taught on the topic of custom PC builds as of last month. Notes about the rig: I'm looking to try and get the most bang for my buck. I'm trying to make sure I don't spend too much, but at the same time, I'm trying to create as beast of a machine as I possibly can. I don't want to skimp on a stupid decision, and I'm not afraid to up my budget to get what's right. I'm hoping to keep my budget under $2,000, however. I'm also willing to go for more expensive components on the hope that they'll go down in price around the holidays, so maybe I can snag some better gear for a better price! What will I use it for? Gaming! But let me clarify what I mean by "gaming". ATM the one game I always play is World of Warcraft. I also dabble in LOL, but I've also got a PS3 and on it I play games like Skyrim, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Bioshock, etc. Sometimes I get the urge to open up Sims. I WILL NOT be playing most FPS games (COD, etc.) I'm naming this rig "Dragon" because Dragon Age: Inquisition is the game that finally pushed me to make the move to PC Gaming. I want to be able to mod these games to my hearts content. Otherwise, I'm big on opening tons of browser windows and going to town. I'm thinking of making this a dual-monitor setup, since NCIX has some good monitor bundles going. I don't do a lot of content creation, aside from occasionally opening Photoshop CC and making a gifset or graphics. I don't plan to overclock, but I can be convinced to change my mind if someone lays down a solid enough argument. I figured it'd just be one more issue to worry about, but... [PCPartPicker part list](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/R4mKkL) / [Price breakdown by merchant](http://pcpartpicker.com/p/R4mKkL/by_merchant/) PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant CPU: Intel Core i5-4690 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($209.99 @ Amazon) CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Nepton 240M 76.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler ($117.99 @ Mac Mall) Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($125.98 @ SuperBiiz) Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($72.99 @ Newegg) Storage: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.99 @ Amazon) Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.28 @ SuperBiiz) Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 280 3GB TWIN FROZR Video Card ($190.91 @ Newegg) Case: Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case ($154.98 @ Newegg) Power Supply: Corsair CX 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($54.99 @ Newegg) Total: $1127.10 Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-14 11:14 EST-0500 (Oh, I also have a 2TB external Seagate drive I'm currently using, so I'm not really worried about storage, and with the case I've chosen, I know that I can always expand.) My biggest questions are about the MOBO and video card. It's been difficult for me to get a solid read on what's "best" in those categories, since there's so many different brands vying for my attention. I liked the idea of the MSI board because it fit the color scheme I was going for, as well as the "Dragon" theme. (I'm willing to sacrifice for any other color, as long as it isn't blue.) Also, should I go for SLI? I've not seen anything that 100% confirms that SLI is always better, and I know if I go for SLI I'll have to ensure my case's cooling is up to snuff, which will mean buying more fans (although my case does come with a few pre-installed, I'm not sure how good their quality is and I'm already assuming I might have to replace them, whether sooner or later.) So, throw your recs at me! Feel free to ask questions, but know that I work from 9:30AM-2PM, so I might not be quick in responses.